Elks clinic is next week

Effingham Elks Lodge #1016, in cooperation with the Illinois Elks Children's Care Program and Dr. Timothy Gray of the Bonutti Orthopedic Clinic, will hold a free orthopedic diagnostic clinic for the children up to age 21 who do not have private health insurance.
The clinic will be held next Wednesday at the Bonutti Orthopedic Clinic, 1303 Evergreen Ave. in Effmgham.
The clinic will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m., by appointment only. Appointments can be made by contacting the Illinois Elks Crippled Children's Program through its toll-free phone, 1-800-272-0074. Calls for an appointment should be made from 1-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Elks have been working with the orthopedic problems of children and in some other children's medical problem areas since 1928.
Currently, they hold a clinic somewhere in Illinois approximately every third work day.
The diagnostic exam clinic offers a full review of a child's orthopedic development, with specific attention to any problems or concerns of the parents, grandparents or legal guardian.
There are no charges for attending the clinic, as the Elks cover all fees, including X-rays and other tests necessary as part of the diagnostic clinic.
If the exam reveals a medical problem, and the family does not have resources to obtain treatment, the Elks program will provide assistance within their guidelines.
The Elks program frequently works with other charities to coordinate care for a child and share resources.
The Elks clinic is ideal for a child who seems clumsy; falls frequently; complains of back, leg, hip, shoulder or arm pain; has feet pointing in or out; or has a curved spine.
No medical referral is necessary for the clinic, but physicians are welcome to refer patients to the clinic for a specific reason or second opinion.
School nurses are welcome to refer children and families to the clinic.
Over the past 83 years, the Elks have provided millions of dollars of support for clinics, pieces of specialty equipment for a child, sessions of many types of therapy and other medical treatments.
The goal of the program has always been to determine what can be done to help a child and family cope with and overcome a child's medical problem.
Further information on the clinic and the program in general can be obtained by calling the toll free number: 1-800-272-0074.